Boys regional soccer: Rivalry matchup between Avon, Avon Lake has high stakes

No matter the sport, no matter the level if Avon and Avon Lake are on the same field the level of interest and intensity gets ratcheted up exponentially. When a trip to the state semifinals is hanging in the balance it should be a night to remember. The Southwestern Conference champion Eagles and the Shoremen will renew their rivalry Sunday night at Amherst's Spitzer Stadium to battle for a Division II regional championship. It will be the first time two Lorain County teams have ever done battle with so much on the line. "I've been coaching a long time and I think this is my best team ever, This is a special group," Avon Lake coach Pete Klepek said. "I don't think these kids realize it but they're out making memories every day. They won't realize that until later on in their lives." Avon Lake comes in with an 18-1-2 record after its regional semifinal win over Anthony Wayne. That was loss came at Avon on October 1 when the Eagles when the regular season meeting between the teams by a score of 2-0. "We knew them, they know us," Avon coach Chris Dore said. "It's going to come down to performance. It's not going to be scouting or tactics it's going to be whichever team on that night plays better and can impose their style of play better." Avon (14-2-3) won a regional championship in 2021, this is the first time the Shoremen have advanced to the regional finals. "It's an exciting time for these guys they just want to keep playing together. The more games the better," Dore said. The Eagles 67 goals this season is the second most scored by any Avon team in Dore's 19 years at the school but come tournament time its defense that wins championships and Avon has only allowed one goal in it's last seven games. In the regional semifinals they defeated Walsh Jesuit 1-0. "In the second half of the year we've stressed defense," Dore said. "If you want to win difficult games consecutively you have to protect your goal." Avon Lake has hung its hat on a defense all season. The Shoremen have 15 shutouts this year and since the loss to Avon have only allowed one goal. "I've been coaching a long time and I think this is my best team ever, This is a special group," Klepek said. "I don't think we played our best game (against Anthony Wayne) but we still found a way to come out victorious." Avon Lake expected it might get another chance at Avon after it's first meeting. "When I was looking at the seeding and I saw Avon got the one seed and we got the two, I wanted to see where Chris was going, then I knew where I wanted to go," "Klepek said. "I knew eventually our paths would meet again. If you want to be the best you've got to beat the best." Unlike the rivalry in other sports where coaches and players dare not speak the name of the opposing school. its been more of a friendly competition on the soccer field. "When we're on the field we want to beat them," Klepek said. "In that moment they aren't the city next to us, they're our rival enemy but when the game ends we all want the SWC and Lorain County to be successful." Klepek said. "We all have the same goal to be the first state champion from Lorain County," Klepek said. The winner of Sunday's match will be one step closer to that goal, earning a trip to Wednesday's state semifinals against the winner of the Hudson-Brecksville regional final. "Regional finals something that we as a program strive to get to every years whether its possible or not," Dore said. "They guys don't have as much tournament experience as some teams I had but they learned a lot from the Walsh Jesuit game about the approach and what to expect." After bus rides of over an hour for their previous game but coaches are happy to be able to play close to home on Sunday. "Tallmadge is a beautiful facility but very far away," Dore said. "This is more ideal. No matter what happens the one thing you do know is both groups of players will remember the game forever." No matter the outcome Klepek is expecting it to be a special night for both teams. "I'm expecting a good crowd. Think about it. It's a Sunday evening, 6 p.m. no Browns games, the weather is supposed to be good with no rain," Klepek said. "It's the perfect opportunity for everyone to come out and enjoy the game and still get home at a reasonable hour. That's what its all about, having that atmosphere and having everyone out cheering for these boys." Contact Todd Shapiro at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.